Matthew 5:38-48
Today's selection comes out of Jesus' sayings called the Beatitudes, his radical redefining of behaviour, attitudes, religion, and relationships. Most scholars believe that Matthew's Gospel was written for a primarily Jewish audience, hence the motif on fulfilled prophecy (among other things). If you read the Beatitudes in Luke's Gospel you'll notice that they are set on a flat plain, but in Matthew's interpretation, they are delivered on a mountain or hill (hence the name, The Sermon on the Mount). This seems an intentional act (some would say of the author, others, Jesus) of likening the Beatitudes to the Ten Commandments.
 |
| Martin Luther King, Jr., with photograph of Mahatma Gandhi. http://www.satyagrahafoundation.org/category/martin-luther-king-jr/ |
It is curious and a little disturbing how many Christians have been so willing to dismiss the Beatitudes as wishful thinking or ideals that cannot be achieved. Some have taken them to heart and lived them out, though usually at great cost.
There are many interpretations of today's reading, but it seems that a common theme of them is that they are designed to cause the offender to see the victim as a person. The actions are non-violent, but not at all passive. Some scholars say that they are aimed at coaxing the offender beyond the security of violence allowed by Roman law to unjust actions that would get them in trouble with their authorities.
While our reactions to and interpretation of the Beatitudes might differ, the command to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors gives us much to think about and even more hard work to do.
-Matthew Kieswetter
No comments:
Post a Comment